Two of the six suspects charged in connection with the shooting death of Corvyan Thomas last week on Bethel Street had their charges amended Friday at a preliminary hearing in Christian District Court.
James Yates and Lane Carter appeared before District Judge Foster Cotthoff, who heard testimony from Hopkinsville Police Detective Randall Greene about the investigation that led to the arrest of Yates, Carter, three juveniles and Shakkory Willis. Detective Greene says the group planned the robbery before it occurred, in response to a rumor that Thomas and Dylan Stewart had substantial amount of money and drugs in the residence.
Greene says two female juveniles were sent into the home to determine if there were drugs or money inside.
Yates, Willis and a male juvenile allegedly entered the home through an unlocked door and Green says Yates held down Dylan Stewart, who would sustain a gunshot wound to the leg.
He confirmed that Carter never entered the home but drove the others to and from the location.
Judge Cotthoff sent the case on to the grand jury, but not before amending both men’s charges from first-degree robbery to complicity to first-degree burglary.
Judge Cotthoff ruled that their bonds of $50,000 would remain the same, due to the serious nature of their charges.
In the course of the incident, Thomas would die of a gunshot wound and Willis—who has a preliminary hearing set for Monday at 1 p.m.—is charged with murder and first-degree robbery. Two of the juveniles are charged with complicity to first-degree robbery while a third is charged with first-degree robbery, first-degree assault and criminal possession of a forged instrument.